Tawei Liao

Google Insights into Peak Oil

Google Insights for Search is a tool that allows you to find out about search volume in different regions of the world.  The data goes back to 2004.  The following is a volume chart of the search term “peak oil”.

As you can see, searches for “peak oil” peaked in 2005 when oil prices first spiked. Searches for “peak oil” again shot up in the summer of 2008 when crude oil traded for nearly $150 a barrel.

We can also look at where in the world people are searching for “peak oil”. Since it is an English term, we expect to see searches mostly from the English speaking world. What surprises me is that there are more searches for “peak oil” in New Zealand than in the United States.  New Zealanders are more “peak oil” aware than Americans.

The tool can further break down the popularity of the search term within United States by state, metro, and city.

Portland, Oregon is the most “peak oil” aware metro area in the United States.  That is not a surprise to me.  The Portland City commissioned an 86 page report on peak oil in 2007.  Seattle-Tacoma region is second.  Number ten on the list of top metro regions searching for “peak oil” is Phoenix, Arizona.  The American Southwest will most likely see large out-migration as peak oil takes hold.  The region’s lack of fresh water and overt reliance on automobile for personal transportation pose serious threats.  I believe the residents of the Phoenix metro area are concerned about their own long term survival prospects.